A.L. Chaffee

Find a Grave

Birth: Nov. 22, 1870 Ventura Ventura County California, USA

Death: Jun. 11, 1929 Ventura Ventura County California, USA

Taken from Guinn Historical & Biographical Record of Southern California sometime after 1901: "ARTHUR L. CHAFFEE. Surrounding the dry-goods and clothing business of A.L. Chaffee & Co., of Ventura, there is a tinge of the historic, a suggestion of hardship in early days, and of obstacles overcome, rendering possible the present successful trade. Beyond the fact that the enterprise is without exception the oldest of it's kind in Southern California and by far the largest in its line in Ventura County, its association with the life of that well-remembered pioneer, Walter Scott Chaffee. This early settler, who, more than any other in the small Spanish settlement of San Buenaventura, dispelled with the enthusiasm of his eastern spirit the old-world traditions of the town, was born in Peterboro, Madison County, New York February 2, 1834. His father (Enoch) and ancestors were associated with many of the early struggles of the country, and during the great slavery excitement the former was instrumental in aiding many an unfortunate to gain liberty". A.L. went to Ventura public schools and then at Heald's Business College in San Francisco. When he was sixteen he entered his father's store and was engaged in the capacity of bookkeeper. As of 1891, he was his father's book-keeper. On the death of his father, A.L. became the administrator of the estate and one of the incorporators of the same, which included all the property besides the store. For some time he continued the business alone, but in 1900 the firm of A.L. Chaffee & Co. was incorporated. A.L. was an excellent manager and had a good sense of finance. He married Ventura born Eva Catarina Solari, who received her education in a Pomona convent near Pasadena. A.L. built a beautiful two-story Victorian cottage about 1900 on the northeast corner of Main and Kalorama Streets (907 E. Main St.). It had carved and inlaid woodwork which even ran around the top of the porch. It had enough room upstairs to go roller skating around for children. The wood for the house was either from Santa Barbara or San Francisco. It got moved to the foot of California St. in 1939 and in the late 60's, it was demolished to make way for the extension of Harbor Blvd. and the construction of the Holiday Inn. A.L. ran the Chaffee store (Chaffee's Dry Goods) until his death in 1929. After a few years, the business was sold and the Ventura Deparment Store started and lasted many years. Now there is a bank on the corner of Palm and Main Street.

The following is from the Star-Free Press Newspaper, August 1972: "75 years ago, August 1897 two highwaymen attempted to hold up A.L. Chaffee when he was returning from a trip to the countryside in his buggy. When they tried to grab the reins of his horses, Chaffee knocked one man down with a sharp blow of his buggy whip. The highwayman fell under the horsess' hoofs and was run over by the wheels of the buggy. His companion fled, then Chaffee, with the help of the sheriff, lodged the injured man in jail".

Per 1880 U.S. Federal census Leslie Chaffee is living in San Buenaventura, Ventura, California, born abt 1871 California Son, father born NY, mother born TX

Per Ventura County Marriage Index 1873-1928 CHAFFEE, Arthur L. married SOLARI, Eva C. on 19 February 1898

Per 1900 U.S. Federal census Leslie A. Chaffee is living in Ventura, Ventura, California, born Nov 1871 California Married Head Merchant-Dry Goods, spouse name Eva C., father born NY, mother born TX

Per 1910 U.S. Federal census Arthur L. Chaffee is living in Ventura, Ventura, California, born abt 1871 California Married President-Retail Dry Goods, spouse name Eva C., father born NY, mother born TX

Per 1920 U.S. Federal census Arthur L. Chaffee is living in Ventura, Ventura, California, born abt 1873 California Married Merchant-Own Store Emporium, spouse name Eva S., father born NY, mother born TX

Per Vital Search CA Death Records Arthur L. Chaffee, age 56, died 06-11-1929 in Ventura County, CA, spouse initials next to name are "E S"

Family links:

Parents:

• Walter Scott Chaffee (1834 - 1894)
• Rebecca Olivia Nidever Chaffee (1846 - 1907)

Spouse:

*Eva Catarina Solari Chaffee (1878 - 1965)

Siblings:

*Walter Scott Chaffee (1866 - 1936)*

• Mary Chaffee (1867 - 1871)*
• John "Hyde" Chaffee (1869 - 1950)*
• Arthur Leslie Chaffee (1870 - 1929)
• Helen Le Noir Chaffee Wilde (1872 - 1953)*
• Lemuel Wallace Chaffee (1874 - 1875)*
• Ethel Martha Chaffee McElhany (1877 - 1974)*
• Lawrence Wayne Chaffee (1880 - 1940)*
• Chester Chauncy Chaffee (1883 - 1960)*
• Bessie Marguerite Chaffee Bounds Staley (1887 - 1966)*
• Calculated relationship

Burial: Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Ventura Ventura County California, USA

Created by: Terry Chaffee Record added: Jan 19, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 24047649